The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-28
MISS ETHEL srRAGUE's STAGE PLANS
The Daughter of Governor and Grand
daughter of q Chief-Justice.

daughter of q Chief-Justice.
Interview in Washington Sunday Gazette.
Does your mother approve of this step2"
''Oh. yes; she makes no objection. She sees
time absolutely tried to dissuade me from
my purpose My friends. of course. violently
object to my going upon the stage. but do not
heed their objection. 1 have met many actors
and actresses with whom have talked upon the
subject and most of them have advised me not
to go upon the stage. on account of the hard
ships which viii be compelled to endure in or
der to succeed in the profession: but / tell them
that realize that must work hard and am pre-
pared to do so in order to succeed. Mr.. McCul-
Tough once said to me that he hoped would
give up the idea, not because he did not think
that had talent-for after had recited to him
he paid me extremely delicate compliment in
saying that the poem which had rscited had
revealed to him q new meaning-but because of
the struggle that would have to mako before
could gain recognized position"
What other actors or actresses have you
talked with!"
Madame Modjeska, Lawrence Barrett. John
T. Raymond. Robert Downing and Henry
Irving. All have been most kind to me. and
while they have set forth the difficulties OF their
profession. they have told me that / possessed
dramatic talent which would one day command
the recognition of the public If persevered."
when do you intend to make your debutP \.
81 shall not make any debut IN the sense that
the average young woman who goes from society
upon the stage does. am convinced that the
only true way to become an actress is to com
mence at the very foot of the ladder. and when
7 do go upon the stage shall seek some subor
dinate position in frstclass company and
work my way up. In the meantime have been
studying the literature, may say, OF the profess
sion. There is hardly a play OF Shakspeare's
that have not read and studied: don't mean
with regard to any particular character, but
to comprehend the full scope Of the en- tire
play and the relations of the characters to each
other. l also realize that in order TO be enabled
to stand the strain which the profession will
demand must possess good physique. and
take great deal of outdoor and muscular ex-
ercise. ride horseback great deal. and have
learned to fence and to swing Indian clubs. and
to do many other gvmnastic feats. / would like,
Ii possible, to spend year at the Paris Con
servatoNe. whore could have the advantage of
the instruction OF Coquelin You see was
educated in Europe and am quite familiar with
Paris and the French style of acting. Do yeu
know / think the French style is wonderfully
realistic and effective"
Twill you make your first attempt next year.
do you Lhink2'
II cannot say at present, nor until my
mother returns froms Europe. I am expecting
her now by every steamer, and when she comes
/ shall have good long talk with her. and then
definitely determine as to my plans"
do you think anything is likely to occur to
change Your determination as to going upon the
stageT
life. | realize all of the consequences of the
step. think. and / am prepared TO accept the
burden OF the work that will fall upon ma I
may not go upon the stage in this country. but
may make my first venture IN England. where
have GOOD many frlen0S, as mas also my
mother. ana Mr.. Irving told me that whenever
decided take the step he would give me all
the assistance in mis- power"
''When you have had your experience in a
stock company, and have learned the business
of the profession, what line OF characters have
You marked out for your future careerF
II shall be a tragedenRe, taking all the range
of Shakspea female characters. Do you
know a character in Shakespeare that have the
greatest mbition to play is that of Lady Mac
bethl Usually actresses wait until they become
slightly passe and have ceased TO be attractive
in the Juvenile characters before they essay the
role of Lady Macbeth. but my idea of her Is
vastly different from that. l believe that she
had far more womanv characteristics than are
usually attributed to her. that she was far more
personally attractive than she is usually con-
sidered to be, and that she acquired and re-
tanned her hold upon Macbeth moro by her
feminine qualities than by the masculine force
of will in which che is usually represented.
Then. of Shakspeare's other characters, | hope
play Rosaliud, Viola. Beatrice, Juliet.
Opheia, Desdemona. and the rest Be-
sides these. look forward to playing julia. In
The Hume back. and Virginia OF conrse these
are my ambitious. / cannot tell you how far
they will ever be realized. nor will l be able to
Judge of my powers until they are put TO the
actual test in = dramatic company and upon the
professional stage. AS / say. have been very
successful IN rectations Even the most prorni-
nent actors and actresses who have heard me re-
cite have compimen,ed me- on my work and
have predicted that would succeed know